Initial signs of impending crisis, denial of indications, debates in media, onset of crisis, media hype and official denials, knee jerk reactions and downplaying the extent of crisis, acceptance of crisis into mainstream and living with crisis. This have been patterns of disaster management in India for long; be it terrorism, recession, monsoon or now swine flu in recent times. So called preventive measures have only helped to give hardship to people, in the name of protection.
Otherwise, why has swine flu spread to India, with all these preventive measures. Unlike US which was caught unawares, we had sufficient time to gear up. If those measures were not enough, why did we put people through the hardship? Not to talk about isolation that many were put through. This is not the first time a pandemic has reached us from abroad.
I am glad that I live in a democracy. Democracy is a socio-political system, responsive to concerns of its citizens. When democracy is not able to protect its citizens for whom it stands, it is time to ask fundamental questions.
It is not about the party in power. Story is the same, irrespective of party in the power. I would not like to blame a political party or group. I believe, issue is more fundamental. In democracy, we choose the government and get the government that we deserve. I believe, Indian democracy has stood the test of time and come to stay.
B believe, issue has more to do with a generally laid back attitude. Attitude of expecting good things happen. Attitude of accepting rubbish, be it from government, media, or any other source for that matter. Attitude that it does not hurts till it hits me (when it hits me, then, I am all alone).
I would love live in India that care for its people and its people caring for one another, rather than an India that is policing around as a superpower for its own sake. We need comprehensive, sustained action rather than knee jerk reactions
